Letter from Puzur-Šulgi to Ibbi-Suen about Išbi-Erra's claim on Isin

1-3. Say to Ibbi-Suen, my lord: this is what Puzur-Šulgi, the governor of Kazallu, your servant, says:

4-6. A messenger of Išbi-Erra came to me. He presented himself before me announcing: "Išbi-Erra, my lord, sends you a message:"

7-14. " "Enlil, my lord, has …… the shepherdship of the land. Enlil has told me to bring before Ninisina the cities, deities and troops of the region of the Tigris, Euphrates, Ab-gal and Me-Enlila watercourses, from the province of Ḫamazi {to the sea of Magan} {(1 ms. has instead:) and from the …… of Magan}, so as to make Isin the storehouse of Enlil, to make it famous, and {to make those regions its spoils of war and to make Isin's citizens occupy their cities} {(1 ms. has instead:) to make Isin's citizens occupy the cities as spoils of war.}""

15-17. " "Why do you oppose (?) me? {I swear by the name of my lord Enlil and by Dagan, my personal god} {(2 mss. have instead:) I swear by the name of Dagan, my personal god}, that I will indeed get hold of Kazallu!""

18-25. " "The cities and the province which Enlil has promised me {I want to build up} {(1 ms. has instead:) I want to place} within Isin in their ……. I want to perform at their ešeš festivals. I want to install my statues, my emblems, my en priests {(2 mss. add:) and lumaḫ priests} and nindiĝir priestesses in their ĝipar shrines. Before Enlil, within the E-kur, before Nanna, within the E-kiš-nu-ĝal, the …… shall speak their prayers.""

26-29. " "And as for you, {I want to remove} {(2 mss. have instead:) …… eradicate} from within his country the man in whom you placed your trust! I want to rebuild the fortification of Isin and name it Īdil-pāšunu!""

30-32. Just as he said he would, he has rebuilt the fortification of Isin and named it Īdil-pāšunu.

33-34. He has captured Nibru and installed {his garrison} {(1 ms. has instead:) set guards} there. Also he has captured Niĝdugani, the chief administrator {of Nibru} {(1 ms. has instead:) at Nibru}.

35-36. He {has imprisoned} {(1 ms. has instead:) made a prisoner of} Zinnum, the governor {of Subir} {(1 ms. has instead:) of Kiš}. He has plundered Ḫamazi.

37-42. He has made {Nūr-aḫī} {(2 mss. have instead:) Nūr-Ea}, the governor of Ešnunna, Šu-Enlil, the governor of Kiš, and {Puzur-Tutu} {(1 ms. has instead:) Puzur-Marduk}, the governor of Bad-ziaba, return to their posts. At his cry of victory the land …… is covered (?) like a ……. Išbi-Erra is constantly at the head of (?) his soldiers!

43-48. Just as he said he would, he has captured the regions of the Tigris, Euphrates, Ab-gal and Me-Enlila watercourses. He has made Iddin enter Malgium (?). {Opposing} {(1 ms. has instead:) hating} Girbubu, the governor of Ĝirikal, he {cut off his strap} {(2 mss. have instead:) he removed his barley stores (?)} and captured him. {His cry of victory lies heavily upon us (?)} {(1 ms. has instead:) …… he named ……}.

49-53. Now Išbi-Erra is looking in my direction. I have no ally, nobody with whom I can align myself. Since he has not yet been able to get me in his grasp, let me come to you when he falls upon me. My lord should know this!